It’s so beautiful but began to lose beads from the cross. I was using it a fair amount and wearing it most everyday. I’m going to buy any other one and see if it lasts longer. I even tried burning the rope ends to melt the beads back on and it worked for a short time but began to fall out again.

As a newcomer to Orthodoxy, this book was extremely helpful understanding the historical climate of American Orthodoxy and the current "playbook" parishes can adopt to help evangelize. Coming from a Protestant and then Catholic background, evangelization is something much more common place in those parish communities. Fr. Evan's book does a fantastic job laying out the problem, some cautions, and some fantastic experience advice for cultivating a community of growth and outreach. Bringing people to the True God. I am an insurance agent and financial advisor and this book has even helped me better understand the REASON and METHOD for reaching and connecting with PEOPLE. My vocation is just another avenue by which I can reach Christ and Fr. Evan has done a remarkable job expounding the ways we can connect with people. That's what this book is about - connecting and reaching people. Even if you aren't on a parish council - read this book. Great Book - highly recommend.

Healing Work, Giving Humanity a Second Chance is a captivating book that delves into the profound intersection of psychological mental health practices and Christianity. Written with clarity and empathy, the author skillfully navigates the complex terrain of these two domains, offering readers a unique perspective on finding inner peace and fostering holistic well-being.

One of the book’s standout qualities is its ability to bridge the gap between psychological concepts and Christian principles. The author adeptly explores various psychological approaches, drawing from both contemporary theories and ancient wisdom, and seamlessly integrates them with the teachings of Christianity. By doing so, they create a narrative that embraces the potential for psychological healing within a spiritual framework.

The author’s deep understanding of the human condition shines through in their compassionate and insightful writing. They discuss the challenges individuals face in today’s fast-paced and demanding world, and provide practical strategies to navigate mental health issues within a Christian context. Their words serve as a gentle reminder that seeking help and embracing healing is not only acceptable but also in line with the teachings of compassion and love found in Christianity.

Throughout the book, the author emphasizes the importance of work and service in both psychological well-being and Christian faith. They elucidate how finding purpose and engaging in meaningful work can contribute to personal growth and mental flourishing. By intertwining psychological concepts such as self-reflection, resilience, and mindfulness with biblical principles, the author offers readers a roadmap for cultivating a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

What makes “Healing, Work, Giving Humanity a Second Chance” truly remarkable is its ability to resonate with a wide range of readers. Whether one is deeply rooted in their Christian faith, exploring their spiritual journey, or simply seeking psychological insights, this book provides a rich tapestry of wisdom and guidance. It invites individuals to embark on a transformative exploration of self-discovery, fostering a deeper connection with oneself, others, and the divine.

In conclusion, “Healing, Work, Giving Humanity a Second Chance” is a thought-provoking and uplifting book that bridges the gap between psychological mental health practices and Christianity. With its insightful approach, compassionate tone, and practical advice, it offers readers an empowering resource for personal growth, healing, and finding renewed hope. This book is a testament to the transformative power of integrating psychological insights with spiritual principles, and it is highly recommended for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the human psyche and its intersection with faith.

'Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature' uses St Nikephoros’ list of accepted texts as
a guideline to discuss. It is very well written and does an excellent job in explaining the texts in a way that allows the reader to see the significance and importance. The book feels well researched and is a great resource on the subject. I do have to warn the reader that if you pick up this book without already having a vast knowledge on the Bible as well as some background on the Apocrypha, you can easily get lost and find this as a tough read. As stated in the Introduction, “in many cases the chapters in this book are summaries—meaning that they are not a substitute for reading the text itself. Rather, they are intended to help regular people read and understand these works by pointing out important elements and connections to the Orthodox Christian tradition”. It was a great addition to my library and recommend this to those who wholeheartedly grasp the intention of the book rather than just simple curiosity.

A great first bible to introduce children to Religion.

An invaluable book of wisdom to help you read the wisdom literature in your home.
Depending on your religious tradition, it is likely that when confronted with the term “apocrypha” one might imagine a spectrum that runs between images of mysterious scrolls imbued with spiritual significance from distant times and lands to the far more nefarious picture of false gospels written by men whose chief goal was the manipulation of truth for their own gain. Apocrypha quite literally translates to “hidden thing,” so a certain degree of mystery may, indeed, be inevitable – but are Christian readers that seek wisdom, truth, and a healthily measured approach to ancient texts that formed (and informed) the ancients doomed to reside in the fog of fear and ignorance? With “Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature” the V. Rev. Dr. Stephen De Young answers by separating a false conflation between mystery and cynicism by articulating what the historic and Orthodox Church have said on the topic to reveal what we know about the mysterious category of apocryphal literature of ancient Jews and (later) Christians. In doing so he has offered an incredibly useful text for navigating debates about canonicity, demonstrates how to use wisdom by critically distinguishing how a contemporary reader might receive apocryphal texts as is consistent with the Orthodox tradition, all the while delivering on the promise of the book’s title: an introductory overview to extra-biblical literature that act as, as he says, “missing puzzle pieces” to elaborate on the richness and beauty of the Orthodox Christian tradition. If you are looking for a book that helps explain some of the most important books that might not be included in your bible then the V. Rev. De Young’s “Apocrypha” is the place to start.
“Apocrypha” is divided into two parts: texts that would have both arose and been influential regarding the “Old Testament and Second Temple Literature” and those that Christians might identify in a later historical period concerning the “New Testament and Apostolic Fathers.” Expertly, the V. Rev. De Young outlines what texts the book will critically examine to help elucidate on different apocryphal text’s importance in shaping church history. Moving beyond the Western binary of “accepted biblical canon” and “rejected anti-canonical humanistic literature,” this book recognizes that the historic positions of the Christian East regarding scripture has been one enunciated as “literature to be read publicly in the church,” “literature to be read privately in the home,” and “literature to be avoided/not be read.” Such texts that the author works through are 4 Ezra, 4 Maccabees, 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, The Apocalypse of Abraham, the book of Jubilees, the book of Giants, 3 Enoch, the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Ascension of Isaiah and the Assumption of Moses, the books of Baruch, Joseph and Aseneth, the Apocalypse of Peter, Epistle of Barnabas, Gospel of the Hebrews, the Noncanonical Gospels (Thomas, Peter, and Nicodemus), the Shepherd of Hermas, the Protoevangelium of James, the Acts of Various Apostles (Paul, Peter, John, Thomas, and the Didache), and a review of Clementine literature. I make explicit mention of which books are reviewed and included here to illustrate two points: firstly being that the V. Rev. Stephen De Young sets out to guide the reader through an extraordinary quantity of texts, and secondly to highlight that his knowledge covers many different communities, histories, and beliefs concerning a broad number of spiritual texts that are foundational to different expressions of the Christian faith.
When reflecting on how I might recommend this book I was struck by its accessibility. One might be tempted to term the book as “academic,” but the term would only really apply in the sense that the author is summarizing and offering brief reviews of literature from early Christian history. While the book is intellectually written, it shouldn’t be classified as for “just academics,” as it is written in a way that is just as helpful to the average clergyperson as it would be the aspiring religious philosopher. The writing never speaks down to the reader; it neither requires the reader to summon several dictionaries to understand what it intends to say, nor does it shy away from offering a critical voice against heterodox, heretical, and presentist readings so that the reader can pursue the most faithful perspective with the resources available. I was asked if a non-academic reader with less context for church history, theology, or any extra-biblical literature would be able to pick up this book and learn from it: unquestionably, the answer is yes. The V. Rev. De Young helps here by offering a brief framework for how to approach each text and by asking important questions pertinent to each book, and in each section. Although specific points of concern are addressed, the author does an excellent job of always making sure to work through an important set of general questions, such as “what does the reader need to know about the textual history(?),” “what is the content/background(?),” and “what is the significance of reading this book to the historic and current church?” The third question+answer is the true gem of the book, as it preserves the mystery of why each example of extra-biblical literature is and isn’t considered as part of the traditional “canon” whilst offering highlights for how they can still enrich any Christian readers’ life.
To say it all differently, this book perfectly delivers on its intention to introduce readers to extra-biblical literature. I was born and raised in Western Christianity before converting to Eastern Orthodoxy as an adult, and there was a certain tendency to treat anything termed “apocrypha” as the extra-biblical books of the boogeyman. Those church elders never taught me about what any of these extra-biblical books were – and I was certainly not shown how to read books like these with a critical eye and/or a humble heart. What the V. Rev. Stephen De Young has accomplished here is a navigation of many books listed by St. Nikephoros that does both. If an earnest Christian reader sees this book and reads it to have an improved approximation of how to prayerfully and critically read through their bible, I believe the book will have been worth it. If the same reader uses this as a guiding tool to read through Enochic literature, non-canonical gospels, or the acts of the various apostles (to offer just a brief few examples) to aid in bible studies of different kinds – that would be equally plausible and equally worth it.
Said shortly: “Apocrypha” is an incredibly worthwhile book that any reader of the bible would want to have, and all would stand to benefit from.

Fr. De Young does an excellent job of tying in apocryphal literature with the books of the Old and New Testament, as well as writings of the church fathers, to present a holistic worldview. As a Protestant without much exposure to second temple writings, this book is an excellent entry into this literature for the lay person who wants to better understand the world to which the scriptures were written.
Given the medium and the density of the content, it is often necessary to go back over sections or chapters to fully grasp the connections Fr. De Young is making, but this is more a reflection of the audiobook format, and not an indictment of the writing or reading.
If you enjoy Lord of Spirits/The Symbolic World/etc, you’ll love this audiobook!

Short stories that can be read in a few minutes. The author uses a different writing style, but I quickly got used to it. An honest portrayal of life in an inner city parish. Tragic, funny, thoughtful and inspiring!

Thank you Father Steve!

A wonderful 3rd installation of the Siniari Collection. Can’t recommend enough!

Fr. Stephen’s grasp of ancient writings makes a subject that is quite daunting to most, approachable for non-academics. He gives overviews and the history of some of the most mysterious ancient writings that many of us have been too intimidated to read, and puts them into perspective. It will be invaluable for anyone doing research, yet understandable and readable for the rest of us.

This cross meets my expectations. It is very nicely done, the wood is beautiful and it is simple and classic. Just what I wanted.

I love the Ancient Faith Prayer Book. The large print makes for easy reading and the soft cover lightens your load when taking it along on your daily travels. I am new to Orthodoxy and found that the daily and many occasioned prayers in this book have enriched and deepened my prayer time with Our Lord tremendously. Thank you!

A valuable keeper to re-read and study, over and over. There must have been a little translation problem on page 113, though. No way St Theophan would have written it that way.

Very nice.

Great book, very authentic!

Simply great! What an aid to prayer time!

I love it! I showed it to Fr. Sebastian while on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in June. He smiled and gave me a thumbs up and simply said, it is all in there!

Get one!

During our Annual Lenten Retreat, Fr. Evan lifted up teachings from this book during his three presentations. He inspired us to be bearers of light and to share that light with those within and outside our parish walls. We were amazed at how, with his guidance and encouragment, we can easily take positive steps towards Reclaming the Great Commission. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a concrete plan for Parish Health. Like his previous book, "Toolkit for Spiritual Growth", this book is also easy to read and inspiring for people of all ages.

When I first started reading this book, I didn't understand it. A few chapters in, I had to grab a pencil and start again. The issue was my scientific linear mind that likes things to be in order, so the back and forth with memories, the structure of the book confounded me. I took notes in the margin and kept going back to the name of the chapter to find how it all fit together. After awhile, I understood Angela's way of writing and was able to dive into her story. I also found myself disappointed at first because I bought this book hoping for a guide to being Orthodox. I was baptized and chrismated into Orthodoxy 5 months ago after attending liturgy for 14 months. So being very new to the faith, I was looking for guidance. How do I do this new thing I've committed to? But Angela's story is about her own personal journey and truly she can not tell me what mine will look like or should be. It is my own path with God and my journey will not look like anyone else's journey. So as I began this book, my rating was a 2, but upon completion, that has changed. Angela gave me exactly what I needed and not what I wanted.